Page 95 of In Plain Sight

Ivy narrowed her eyes and gave me a pointed look. “You can’t just drop that you’ve been getting your bossy on with your coworker and cliffhanger me. I need details. Now.”

Distractedly, I tugged the hair tie free from my low ponytail and tucked the long strands behind my ears. “He figured it out yesterday,” I said, then paused, not sure how many details to give.

“How?” Ivy asked when I didn’t continue.

“He sent my handle a message on the app while we were closing the shop last night. He heard the notification, saw me answer, and put two and two together.”

“Jesus.” Mark’s eyes were as round as saucers. “Now that’s an awkward conversation to have at work.”

I spun the ring around my finger absently. “I had my back to him, so I had no clue he’d sent the message until he showed up at my house a few hours later panicking. He told me, and we…”

Ivy and Mark exchanged a knowing look.

“So, yeah. That’s how I found out,” I finished lamely.

“So you’re together now?” Mark asked.

“Yeah, sort of. We’re seeing each other.”

“Eep!” Ivy threw herself into my arms and hugged me tight. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Don’t get too excited.” I hugged her back. “It’s only been a day, not even.”

“Shut up and let me be happy for you.” She squeezed me tight, then let me go. “And let yourself be happy too.”

I nodded, my throat tightening a bit.

She was right. I’d spent last night and most of today worried that Luka would change his mind about us. That it had beenthe shock of finding out and the good feels from getting off that made him want more. And now that he’d had time to think about it, he’d realize that he just wanted to be friends.

It didn’t help that he hadn’t texted yet. We still had hours until we were supposed to meet up, and my brain had decided that was a sign that he wasn’t into me and this was over before it even started.

Sensing that I needed a second, Ivy silently handed Mark a cup of coffee.

I nibbled on my half-eaten cookie, my mind spinning. Luka had taken all the risk last night. He’d come to my house on the brink of a panic attack to tell me the truth. He was the one who said he wanted to see where things went between us, and he was the one who suggested we hang out tonight.

He’d done all of that not knowing how I’d react. He risked rejection multiple times, even though he told me how hard it was for him to stand up for himself or tell people what he wanted. And how hard he took rejection. It was time I put myself out there and show him I was willing to be vulnerable too.

Before I could lose my nerve, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and went to my contacts.

I had Luka’s number, but we’d never texted each other. Time to change that.

Zander: hey, how are you doing today?

There. That was neutral enough, and it gave him an opening in case he really had changed his mind.

“Who are you texting?” Ivy asked innocently.

“No one.”

“If you say so.” She sipped her coffee and peered over the rim of the cup at me.

My phone vibrated with a text, then two more came through in rapid succession.

“Better answer that. No one seems to have a lot to say,” she said with an innocent smile.

Ignoring her, I checked my texts.

Luka: hey

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